Railroad-signal



(No Model.)

J. N. TOOLE.

RAILROAD SIGNAL. 7 No. 325,286. Patented Sept. 1, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES N. TOOLE, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

RAILROAD-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 325,286, dated September 1, 1885.

Application filed July 7, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs N. TooLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at J ackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Railroad Semaphores or Signals, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a signal that can be depended upon at all times; second, to afford facilities for working the same that cannot fail to work rapidly and with certainty; third, to reduce the cost of such devices to a fair standard. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a vertical view of the signal ready for operation, connected with the mechanism intended to operate the same. Fig. 2 is a detailed top view of the lantern-case and the screens that I use to cover one light while I show the other. Fig. 3 is a detailed bottom view of the forearm that'supports the machine, showing the forked gear B and the target-board G from the bottom. Fig. 4 is a detailed top view of the ratchet, showing the position of the ratchet-dog It, the plate X, the tripod \V, and the drum J, when bolted down to the platform Y, as shown at c c 0. Fig. 5 is a View of parts in detail.

Similarletters refer to similar parts th roughout the several views.

The screens D l), the weight-lever and forked gearing A and B, the counterbalanceweight 0, the weight-stop I, the center rocking shaft, L, and the circular box F constitute the frame-work of my invention.

The forearm K, which is framed on the top of the post N, and firmly secured with the brace n and the rod 71, supports the machine.

To the forearm K is attached the rocking shaft L, which turns in the boxes g. The screens D D and the counterbalance-weight lever and forked gear A have square holes through each, and are fastened to the center rocking shaft, L, by means of the nuts t t.

The lights can be any color desired. Between the lights and at each end of the lantern-case are the partitions E E E, which separate the lights and form the ends of the screens around the light that is covered. They are screwed to the forearm at e e.

To the weight-lever and forked gear A is adjusted the counterbalance-weight G, which slides on the lever A, and can be retained after adjustment by the set screw (1. The counterbalance-weight G is provided with a rubber stop, T, which weakens the force of the blow when it comes in contact with the weight-stop I. The stop I is firmly bolted to the post N with the bolts f f.

The target-board G is secured to the forearm K by the staff S, which turns in the circular box F, which is secured to the forearm K at e e e e, as shown at Fig. 3.

The forked gear B is adjusted to the staff S by a set-screw, cl, and works in the part A, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 3. By this arrangement the target-board G can be set very accurately for any direction desired.

The ratchet-drum J is connected with the machine by the wire V at the ring j. Small chains T T are used over the pulleys P when it is necessary to turn angles.

The wire V can be one mile in length, (more or less,) if desired, and can be run on high or low posts, making ita cheap, convenient method for crossing tracks and highways.

To operate the machine for semaphore purposes I turn the ratchetwheel M, which turns the drum J and causes the Weight 0 to rise to the position shown by the dotted lines. It also turns the screens D D overone-fourth and covers the exposed light and discloses the other. By this movement the forked gearing A and B is turned one-fourth around and shows the end of the board G.

When the machine is used for order-signal, it is operated by a small rope, U, attached to the machine at the ringj, as shown in Fig. 1. The rope U passes over the pulleys P P and through the telegraph-office wall Q. To the end of the rope U is fixed a handle which can be conveniently reached from the operators table 0. The handle, being pulled down and hooked on at Z, will operate the signal, as before described.

I am aware that prior to my invention signals have been in use with a board for the day and lanterns for the night signals; but I am not aware that any signal of this class has been worked with the counterbalance-weight and lever attached to rocking shaft, it-h ed upon a single shaft, adapted to hide said light, a swinging day-signal, intermeshing fingers engaging said screens and day-signal to each other, and mechanism for operating the same from either within or without the cabin.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe 20 my name in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES N. TOOLE.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. GALSTER, E. B. OLARKsoN. 

